The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-11-30
A SOCIETY EVENT.
Debut OF John Jacob AstOr the Fourth
an ImmensIty of wealth.
Gloha- Damncraf


Globe-Democrat.
NEW YORK, November 25.-The stir in
high social circles and it amounts to a
cOmmotion, is made by this weeks debut
Of John Jacob Astor the Fourth. He is the
only son Of William Astor, who at present
divides the Astor millions with Joan ia
cob Astor the Third. His enormous finan-
ciGl importance can be imagined. He is
just from graduation at Harvard, and his
solvent in his particular coterle was made
at a very formal dinner given by his
mother. The significance of this occasion
was increased and Emphasized by the fact
that eight girls eligible to mstaimony with
him, we're among the guests. Taey were
the Misses May Brady, daughter OF judge
Brady; Miss Hewitt, daughter of Mayor
Hewitt; Miss Winslow, debuiante beauty
from Albany; ChoriOtte Winthrop. a ren.
resentative of Boston culture; Belle Will
SOD, a sister-in-law of Mrs 0rme Astor
Wilson Miss Psget, Miss Barley and Miss
Turnure. The famous service of solid gold,
costing 100000 was used on this great oc-
cssion, and the hostess wore diamonds Of
stin larger value. There were seats at the
table fo- about 100
John Jacob Astor the Fourth sat at the
right hand Of Mrs. Aston. He wore q
swallow-tail coat, very low vest and black
trousers OF marvelously perfect fit, for he
has since early youth been remarkable for
careful costuming. He is tall, lean and
big-boned, lacking in the solid. Englishy
appearance of his father. His features are
irregular, the nose being indicative of
power rather than beauty. In short, he is
far from being handsome young man.
Hisage is twenty. he will not enter
upon any other career than that of mil
Honaire. He viii neither go into a bust
ness or profession. His attainments ara
ordinary, but he is quite able to figure as
q society beau. And as such he will par
ticlpate in all Of the six exclusively swell
balls to occur at Delmonico's in December.
Scheming mothers will keep their eyes on
him, and apt daughters will not neglect
their chances to win such prize.
John Jacob Astor the Fourth would
be the possessor of not less than $S0,OO0,-
600 if he woald inherit his fathers half
of the Astor estate tomorrow. The
whole Of that enormous for
tune, as estimated to-day for your
correspondent by a real estate expert, now
amounts to $780, COO, 900; but the calcula-
ton is largely guessWork. for the property
is all in houses and land in New York
City, the actual value of which could only
be fixed by sale. The policy of the AS
tors has always been to invest the accu-
mutations of their wealth in vacant lots.
Thus the steady rise in values has tremen-
dously enhanced their riches. and the au-
tbority already quoted says that If appre-
citation goes on for another quarter of q
century as It has during the last the Astors
can hardly help getting into the twentieth
century with $3.50 100000.
Your correspondent made his way yes
terday from the outer to the inner Office of
the Astor Brothers. It was only by assert
ing important business that the presence
OF VIM. Astor was gained.
''And what can 1 do FOR you, sir" he in
Quired.
~ woald like to know for publication
was the reply, "how much your son, Job I
Jacob, will probably inherit"
If the pause which preceded the snsw e
was occupied by mental arithmetic I'll a
calculation came to nothing, for what N Il
Astor said was:
John Jacob will not be likely to live i
e Door house."